Signal mechanism.



W. V. MOAK.

SIGNAL MECHANISM.

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WiLLiAM \LNDAK ATTY W. V. MOAK. SIGNAL MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED.NOV. 18, 1906.

Patented June 15,1909. 3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented June 15,1909.

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UNITE mares T PA WILLIAM V. MOAK, OF SOI-IENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNAL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM V. MOAK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Mechanisms, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signal mechanisms, and its object is to providea novel, simple and reliable mechanism for operating a threepositionsignal or a two-arm two-position signal from a single motor.

My invention consists in the combination of a pair of independentlymovable signal actuating members, a reciprocating member serving as acommon driving member for both signal actuating members, means forclutchin the reciprocating member to the signal actuating membersalternately upon its movement in opposite directions, means forretaining the signal actuating members in the positions to which theyare moved by the reciprocating member, and a rotary motor so connectedto the reciprocating member that a unidirectional rotation of the motorproduces a reciprocating movement of the mem ber.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a signal mechanismarranged in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 shows a rear elevationof the same, in cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows theapplication of my signal mechanism to a two-arm signal; and Fig. 4 showsits application to a one-arm three-position signal.

In the drawings A represents an electric motor which drives throughsuitable speedreducing gearing a gear B. This gear carries a crank C. Aconnecting rod D connects the crank C with a longer crank E, which formsone arm of a three-arm lever, which serves as a reciprocating drivingmember for the signal connecting rods. The other two arms of this leverare shown at E and E The lever is mounted on the shaft F, and may beeither loose or fast on this shaft. Loose on the shaft F on oppositesides of the three-arm lever are the sleeves F and F These sleeves carrythe clutch or slot magnets G and G respectively, which control fingersor pawls g and 9 which are adapted to engage projections on the arms Eand E respectively, of the three-arm reciprocating lever. Also connectedto the sleeves F and F are the signal actuating rods H and H which, asshown in Fig. 3, may be connected to the arms L and L of two separatesignals, which may be home and distant signals as indicated or may bothbe home signals, or the rods may be connected in the well known mannerthrough a floating lever M or its equivalent to a onearm three-positionsignal, as shown in Fig. 4. Dash-pots J and J are arranged to retard thedownward movement of the actuating rods H and H and contacts K areprovided for controlling the circuits of the motor and slot coils.

The parts are shown in the position occupied when the signal or signalsstand at danger position. When motor A is energized, the rotation of thegear-wheel B draws connecting rod D toward the right, as viewed in Fig.2, and moves the arm E of the threearm reciprocating lever toward theleft. If the slot magnet G is energized, the projection on the end ofarm E engaging the finger or pawl g which is held rigid by the slotmagnet, rocks the sleeve F so as to raise the rod H and thereby to clearthe home signal, or to shift the signal from danger to caution, as thecase may be. When the signal has been moved to the proper.position, thefinger or pawl g has passed just beyond the spring catch bl which,regardless of the continued engagement of the arm E with the pawl 9prevents the signal actuating rod H from falling, as long as the magnetG is energized. The motor circuit is, of course, opened when or shortlybefore the signal reaches its proper position. The length of crank C andarm E is so proportioned that the gear B has made half a revolutionduring the above operation. Now if the motor is again energized, thecontinued rotation of gear B in the same direction shifts the connectingrod I) back toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, and returns thethree-arm lever toward the position shown. I/Vhen raising the signalactuating rod H the arm E has been carried beyond the pawl g so that asthis arm is returned toward the position shown in Fig. 2, it engages thefinger g and if the magnet coils G are energized the sleeve F is movedon the shaft F, so as to raise the signal actuating rod H By this redthe distant signal is cleared or the signal is moved from caution toclear, as the case may be. hen the movement of the signal is completed,the gear B has completed another half revolution, returning it from theposition shown, the circuit of motor A is broken, and pawl g has beenbrought to a position just beyond the catch N which catch serves to holdthe signal actuating rod H raised, as long as magnet G remainsenergized, regardless of the position of the three-arm lever.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction andarrangement of parts here shown, but aim in the appended. claims tocover all modifications which are Within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is,

1. I11 a signal mechanism, an electric motor, a rotary member driventhereby, a second member, operative connections between said memberswhereby unidirectional rotation of the first member produces areciprocating movement of the second, a pair of independently movablesignal-actuating members, a pair of electromagnetic clutch mechanismsadapted when energized to clutch said second member to saidsignalactuating members respectively upon the movement of said secondmember in opposite directions, and means for retaining said.signal-actuating members in the respective positions to which they aremoved by said second member.

2. In a signal mechanism, an electric motor, a rotary member driventhereby, a second member, operative connections between said. memberswhereby unidirectional rotation of the first member produces areciprocating movement of the second, a pair of independently movablesignal-actuating members, a pair of electromagnetic clutch mechanismsadapted when energized to clutch said second member to saidsignalactuating members respectively upon the movement of said secondmember 1n opposite directions, and means controlled by said clutchmechanism for retaining said signalactuating members in the respectivepositions to which they are moved by said second member.

3. In a signal mechanism, a pair of indeendently movablesignal-actuating memem, a reciprocating member serving as common drivingmember for both signal-actuating members, means for clutching saidreciprocating member to said signal-actuating members alternately uponthe movement of said reciprocating member in opposite directions, meansfor retaining said signal actuating members in the respective positionsto which they are moved by said reciprocating member, a rotary motor,and connections whereby the unidirectional rotation of said motorproduces the reciprocating movement of said member.

4. In a signal mechanism, a pair of signalactuating members and a commondriving member therefor, each capable of reciprocating movement on acommon axis independently of the other two, means for clutching saiddriving member to said signal-actuating members alternately upon themovement of said driving member in opposite directions, means forretaining said signal-actuating members in the positions to which theyare moved by said driving member, a rotary motor, and. connectionswhereby the unidirectional rotation of said motor produces areciprocating movement of said driving memher.

5. In a signal mechanism, a pair of independently movablesignal-actuating memhere, a reciprocating member serving as commondriving member for both signal-actuating members, means for clutchingsaid rcciprocating member to said signal-actuating members alternatelyupon the movement of said reciprocating member in opposite directi one,means controlled by said clutching means for retaining saidsignal-actuating members in the respective positions to which they aremoved by said reciprocating memher, a rotary motor, and connectionswhereby the unidirectional rotation of said motor produces thereciprocating movement of said member.

6. In a signal mechanism, a p air of signalactuating members and acommon driving member therefor, each capable of reciprocating movementon a common axis independen t-ly of the other two, means for clutchingsaid driving member to said signal-actuating members alternately uponthe movement of said driving member in opposite directions, meanscontrolled by said clutching means for retaining said signal-actuatingmembers in the positions to which they are moved by said driving member,a rotary motor, and connections whereby the unidirectional rotation ofsaid motor produces a reciprocating movement of said driving memher.

7. In a signal mechanism, an electric motor, a rotary member driventhereby, a second member, a crank and connecting rod connection betweensaid members, the crank on the first member being shorter than the crankon the second whereby a unidirectional rotation of the first memberproduces a reciprocating movement of the second, a pair of independentlymovable signal-actuating members, a pair of clutching mechanisms adaptedto clutch said second member In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set tosaid signal-actuating members respecl my hand this 16th day of November,1908. tively upon the movement of said second WILLIAM V. MOAK. membe1 1nopposlte dlrectlons, and means for retaining said signal-actuatingmembers Witnesses:

in the positions to which they are moved by BENJAMIN B. HULL,

said second member. HELEN ORFORD.

